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Forensic audit of Saskatchewan First Nations group finds $34M in questionable spend
The audit found $25 million of COVID-19 funds spent questionably and flagged travel, salaries, and administration expenses, prompting calls for governance reforms and transparency.
- KPMG's audit, posted online Wednesday, found $34,251,566 in questionable and unsupported spending by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2024.
- Indigenous Services Canada retained KPMG LLP last year after allegations of opaque finances, with the audit reviewing more than $141 million and examining $47.1 million in transactions from 2019 to 2024.
- KPMG also raised concerns about fleet purchases and asset sales, noting FSIN bought 22 vehicles for about $1.4 million, sold nine vehicles to staff for $88,600, and allocated more than $5.2 million to chief and vice-chiefs' offices.
- At a Friday media conference in Saskatoon, Mark Arcand, Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief, and other chiefs demanded transparency, called emergency meetings, and urged the FSIN executive to provide answers while Indigenous Services Canada said it will take action and consult authorities.
- KPMG recommended FSIN review procurement, hiring, capital-asset, accounting and expense-approval policies to improve oversight; some chiefs called for RCMP investigations though the RCMP is not currently probing, and the FSIN chiefs assembly in Yorkton in later October will prioritize the findings.
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45 Articles
45 Articles
Sask Today+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
First Nations group questions audit that found $34M in questionable spending
Coverage Details
Total News Sources45
Leaning Left21Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution81% Left
Bias Distribution
- 81% of the sources lean Left
81% Left
L 81%
11%
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